Change is coming to PvP gear in the relatively near future, and we wanted to provide a not-so-brief update on the improvements we’re planning, while pulling the curtain aside a bit so you can see the thought processes that motivated the coming changes. We also thought this would also be a great time to get the World of Warcraft PvP community involved in the discussion.

The Challenges
There are a few main issues that we’re working to address within the next couple of patches:

Early Advantage
Currently, it’s very common for players that have a head start at the start of the season to earn the best gear quickly and gain a dominating position on the ladder with a very high Match Making Rating (MMR). It’s then pretty common for those players to only participate on the ladder in a minimal way before reaping their rewards at the very end of the season. That’s not particularly good for competition, and we don’t think that it’s a very fun way for a competitive ladder to work. We would like to see the ladder remain active, and for high ranking players to earn their positions throughout the season, instead of just blitzing early and camping a spot above a certain threshold.

Mid-season Start
Players getting into PvP mid-season face a very significant challenge to gear up and become competitive because players that started earlier in the season are so far ahead in terms of gear. We want to make it more reasonable for a player to join in on organized PvP mid-season, while still rewarding the commitment of players that have remained invested in PvP throughout the season.

Rating Requirements
The current rating requirements on PvP gear create an artificially sharp division between players over 2200 rating and those below that rating threshold, which is unduly difficult to cross. We’d prefer that teams progress up the ladder on a curve against gradually more difficult opponents, instead of running into a wall at a certain rating.

Gear Advantage
Over time, the gap in power between Honor and Conquest PvP items has widened. This happened, in part, because it’s necessary for us to preserve the balance in power between PvP and PvE gear so that one doesn’t become the most obvious path to victory for the other. Right now, there are four tiers of PvE items, but only two tiers of PvP items. To keep Honor items from being the best choice for entry into PvE, they needed to have a lower item level than equivalent Raid Finder items. At the same time, Conquest gear still needs to be better for PvP than Heroic raid items, which puts it way over on the opposite end of the power scale from its Honor counterpart. While there are items that bridge the gap between Raid Finder and Heroic Raid loot, there really haven’t been any PvP items to bridge the gap between Honor and Conquest gear. We plan to solve that problem by introducing new tiers of PvP items, changing which currencies it takes to buy items and when, and by making PvP weapons more readily available in general.

Flexibility
While the item upgrade system has the benefit of allowing players that have “finished” their PvP set to continue to progress their character’s power, because there’s built-in pressure to continue upgrading their main set, it also means that players don’t always feel comfortable spending those points on alternate sets of gear for different specs (though it’s worth mentioning that the upgrade system will be disabled for patch 5.2). We’d like to make it easier for players in this position to experiment with alternate specs and stats.

Moving Forward
Meeting these challenges will mean that some changes are coming to MMR, PvP gear, and how gear is earned and paid for:

Team Rating Inflation
As we’ve mentioned previously, we want to see the ladder rankings decided toward the end of a season, and not a foregone conclusion dictated by what happens at the start. As discussed in the PvP in Mists of Pandaria Dev Watercooler, as of patch 5.2 Team Rating will gradually increase as players participate in PvP over the course of the season. We expect the new system to help ensure that the ladder remains active at all ratings and that the competition stays fierce from start to finish.

Gear Changes
To accomplish the goals of making PvP more accessible and less punishing, gearing more consistent and flexible, and flattening the power curve out over the course of a season, there are some significant changes in the works:

Tyrannical Gladiator’s gear can be purchased for Honor after 27000 Conquest Points are earned for the season. (5.3)

Elite Tyrannical Gladiator’s gear can only be purchased with Conquest Points after 27,000 Conquest Points have been earned for the season. (5.2)

The 2200 rating requirements on gear will be removed in patch 5.2, and when that happens, the only barrier to acquiring top of the line Elite gear will be the 27,000 Conquest Point seasonal currency requirement. While highly rated players will still earn gear more quickly, there won’t be an invisible wall to progression at 2200 rating.

As of patch 5.3, patches that don’t include the start of a new season will offer players the opportunity to purchase Conquest Point weapons without first meeting the seasonal currency requirement for them. We’re relaxing these restrictions because, by the mid-point of the season, the restriction has served its purpose and is no longer necessary. It’s worth noting here that the 27,000 Conquest Points earned requirement must always be met to buy Elite armor and weapons in every season.

In terms of relative power, we’re tuning the item levels, PvP Power, and Resilience on the new set of PvP items so that the difference between Malevolent and Elite Tyrannical Gladiator’s gear is similar to the relationship between this season’s Dreadful and Malevolent Gladiator’s gear. This helps accomplish the goal of smoothing out the power curve by adding a tier in the middle of the PvP gear spectrum. Also, to add choices and flexibility, once the seasonal currency requirement is met, players will have the option to purchase Tyrannical pieces for Honor, which should allow players to more easily experiment with alternate stat loadouts and specs.

Mid-Season Catch Up
Players who are starting their journey into PvP mid-season start significantly behind the gearing curve. While we want to avoid invalidating the effort of players that have competed for the whole season, we agree with the feedback we’ve received that the starting gap is too large, so a new Conquest Point catch-up cap will be implemented using the following formula:

Player A is starting PvP for the first time in week 10 of the season, and hasn’t earned any Conquest Points at all that season. He will have an additional cap of 10,000 points added to his normal weekly rating based cap.

Player B has already earned 5,000 Conquest Points by week 10, so she would have an additional cap of 5,000 points added to her normal weekly rating based cap.

Player C has been playing all season long, and has earned more than 10,000 Conquest Points by week 10. He only has the normal weekly cap to work with (but should already be on their way to being well geared).

If a player “redeems” their catch up cap by earning all those points, then they’ll begin the next week at their normal weekly rating based cap. Should they miss more weeks, then the catch up cap accrues again.

So, to sum up the planned changes for Patch 5.2:

Rating requirements will be removed from PvP gear.

Malevolent Gladiator’s gear, including weapons, will be available for purchase with Honor Points.

A new tier of Conquest Point gear will be added that becomes available once 27000 Conquest Points have been earned for the season.

Team Rating will gradually increase during the season for teams and players that continue to compete in PvP. This system is explained in the Mists of Pandaria PvP Dev Watercooler.

And here are the specific changes that are planned to hit in Patch 5.3:

In patches that don’t include a new season (including patch 5.3), the seasonal currency requirement of 27,000 Conquest Points earned will be lifted from weapons. The seasonal currency requirement must always be met to purchase Elite items, though.

Once the seasonal currency requirement is met, players will be able to purchase Tyrannical Gladiator’s gear with Honor Points.

The Conquest Point catch up cap will be introduced.

Conclusions
Overall, we expect that these changes will create a more active and competitive PvP environment, narrow the gear gap between the highest rated players and those still working their way up the ladder, and open the door for more experimentation in terms of class or spec.
We look forward to hearing your opinions and feedback on these upcoming changes!

I don't really understand all this hate and flame for high rated arenaplayers. THEY are the ones who have been asking for this gear change entire season. It helps everyone. Makes it possible to gear up alts and increases the amount of people queing for arena. Even the idea for increased points to ppl starting in mid season came from arenajunkies poster(nadagastt). Most of arenaplayers don't give a damn about gear. They don't want to outgear enemies and roflstomp them becouse they have T2 and enemy does not.

I think most of the QQ left is just directed at not being a unique snowflake anymore with the elite gear given to everyone who has 27,000+ Cpoints.

and in 5.3, you can upgrade all of it. Nothing changed, people that started late just get more conquest and you no longer need a rating for elite gear, which doesn't really matter since wintraders/pros will get it weeks/months before any other player gets it.

I didn't say this fixed it all. I just said it was a step in the right direction, which I think it is. Best thing would just to give everyone access to full PvP gear immediately, imo.

This is a nice change. I haven't done arena since wrath since its not my idea of fun. BUT I do hope they atleast add transmog sets for those that get over 2200 points.

Why should they waste development time making an entire new set for each class each season, just so they can feel special and unique? They did it once for the entire expansion in regards to Challenge Modes. And that can be achieved by anyone, including PvPers.

The best you guys can hope for is some new tabards and the titles under Gladaitor made permanent and awarded in-season. Anything more is unreasonable and wasting development time. Stop worrying so much how you look and how others perceive you and just kill people. So sad.

Why should they waste development time making an entire new set for each class each season, just so they can feel special and unique? They did it once for the entire expansion in regards to Challenge Modes. And that can be achieved by anyone, including PvPers.

The best you guys can hope for is some new tabards and the titles under Gladaitor made permanent and awarded in-season. Anything more is unreasonable and wasting development time. Stop worrying so much how you look and how others perceive you and just kill people. So sad.

Wellwell. The problem is that pve players get unique looks, new achievements etc for every raidtier. Pvpers have the one set and every1 will look the same. Imo it would be good idea to add some new achievements, transmogear (does not need new model maybe recolor?), tabards, minipets or something for high arena/rbg rates. Just to motivate casual pvpers to learn and push for higher ratings instead of farming the 10 games per week. Ofc there are players like me who plays arena becouse its fun instead of loots but imo those things would increase the amount of people queing to arena.

Coming from a multi glad full maleovalent t2 2/2 upgraded on every piece, but like 3 pieces. I'm happy that something is being done to the gear gap, but there is more that needs to be done such as equalizing the cap provided from 3v3 arena/rbgs and having players be able to buy the full set with honor past 27k conquest be account wide for alts.

People actually being able to play alts competitively should help a lot with bringing some activity back to the mostly dead ladders. Who actually cares about the 2200 gear when people buy sales, get it in (exploited) rbgs, transmog exists or for people using model editing programs like evermorph in the past/now tmorph.

Still disappointing that people have to wait till 5.2 for warrior nerfs instead of it just coming with 5.1. Even with how bad cataclysm was at least 4.1 nerfed how dumb warriors were in s9.

This is the worst update in the game. all the terrible players will be given gear for no reason. way to ruin arenas blizzard and anyone who says im wrong is stuck in the 1500 bracket

What are you worried about? If they're 'terrible', then you won't have a problem beating them in equal gear now, will you? Or are you actually terrible, and rely on a falsified 'skill' crutch known currently as a gear gap to beat people?

Anyone who disagrees with these changes is a scrub. More equal playing field = more competition = better PVP environment. Anyone who argues against this just shows that they do, in fact, rely on gear over skill.

Wellwell. The problem is that pve players get unique looks, new achievements etc for every raidtier. Pvpers have the one set and every1 will look the same. Imo it would be good idea to add some new achievements, transmogear (does not need new model maybe recolor?), tabards, minipets or something for high arena/rbg rates. Just to motivate casual pvpers to learn and push for higher ratings instead of farming the 10 games per week. Ofc there are players like me who plays arena becouse its fun instead of loots but imo those things would increase the amount of people queing to arena.

Do you even realize how small of a percentage arena holds over the overall PvP playerbase? It's a mini side game. That's all it is. You're asking for comparable rewards to PvE for this shoebox PvP minigame. No.

You don't deserve anything other than some minor cosmetic awards. Not only does a small percentage play arena, a significantly smaller percentage of that total plays well enough to garner these "2200" rewards. It's a complete waste of development. They're finally smartening up and opening up the PvP gear to the entire PvP playerbase.

Really though, what's all the fuss about adding all of these rewards for being -mediocre-? You're 2200, you aren't suddenly good at the game. That's what's reserved for Gladiator, and they get their due rewards. You want to look/feel special? Achieve Gladiator.

if PvP was about skill and not gear, then they'd give free PvP gear out to everyone and everyone would wear the same gear.

then of course, there'd be no gear progression, and players who devote a lot of time to pvping won't feel rewarded... always makes me laugh how people are like "it's about skill not gear", but the moment you threaten to take the gear out of it and put everyone on equal terms, it becomes about gear.

The changes for Elite gear are kinda lame, the helping new-comers gear up is welcome, though. I didn't want to level my DK because the whole undergeared thing, so it seems I'll be fine next season at least 10 weeks in.

Do you even realize how small of a percentage arena holds over the overall PvP playerbase? It's a mini side game. That's all it is. You're asking for comparable rewards to PvE for this shoebox PvP minigame. No.

You don't deserve anything other than some minor cosmetic awards. Not only does a small percentage play arena, a significantly smaller percentage of that total plays well enough to garner these "2200" rewards. It's a complete waste of development. They're finally smartening up and opening up the PvP gear to the entire PvP playerbase.

Really though, what's all the fuss about adding all of these rewards for being -mediocre-? You're 2200, you aren't suddenly good at the game. That's what's reserved for Gladiator, and they get their due rewards. You want to look/feel special? Achieve Gladiator.

I don't think you got the point. I don't care about gear or being special snowflake. I just hoped those cosmetics would increase the interrest of pve / casual players to actually play rated pvp ---> increase the amount of people playing pvp ---> shorter ques, more teams and different setups. And like i said before only minor cosmetics / minipets should be added as rewards. No gear advantage..

if PvP was about skill and not gear, then they'd give free PvP gear out to everyone and everyone would wear the same gear.

then of course, there'd be no gear progression, and players who devote a lot of time to pvping won't feel rewarded... always makes me laugh how people are like "it's about skill not gear", but the moment you threaten to take the gear out of it and put everyone on equal terms, it becomes about gear.

Most of the people complaining about the 2200 elite gear being given to everyone are some of the most toxic players I've ever encountered in the game. WoW would wholly benefit from their departure. Hopefully Blizzard realizes that. The PvP community has become rife with elitism and boosting, it's sickening.

The changes for Elite gear are kinda lame, the helping new-comers gear up is welcome, though. I didn't want to level my DK because the whole undergeared thing, so it seems I'll be fine next season at least 10 weeks in.

what the fuck is this ?
Gear Changes
To accomplish the goals of making PvP more accessible and less punishing, gearing more consistent and flexible, and flattening the power curve out over the course of a season, there are some significant changes in the works:
2200 rating requirements removed from all PvP gear. (5.2)
Gear will be available in four tiers:
Dreadful Gladiator’s gear will be crafted. (5.2)
Malevolent Gladiator’s gear, including weapons, will be purchased with Honor Points. (5.2)
New tier of PvP items: Tyrannical Gladiator’s gear will be purchased with Conquest Points. (5.2)
Tyrannical Gladiator’s gear can be purchased for Honor after 27000 Conquest Points are earned for the season. (5.3)
Elite Tyrannical Gladiator’s gear can only be purchased with Conquest Points after 27,000 Conquest Points have been earned for the season. (5.2)
what ?? ow this is the finish of the game . i will better play some WoT or Dota , for free but wouldnt pay for this shit . Cause i am responsive player 2x gladiator and should.....
The make free rbg (evereyone can take 2.2 on rbg for 1 hour) and ow they will give epics for free ? no hardcore ?
this game totaly die after Ulduar, there no borders between guys who farm LFR and guys who kill Sha. just will abort my account GL HF Blizzard (and big ThX cause i can stop play ) =))